Salt and Light Blog

The Lord Jesus Christ teaches us how powerful love can be. We have all heard of the cases where a child lifts up the back of an automobile to rescue his father who has knocked the car of its jack. This kind of power is supernatural; it is not something of which man is normally capable. Another amazing display of love is the power it can bring out in us when it comes to laying down our lives for those we love. That love drove my son to face a fierce enemy, both physical and spiritual. Jesus said:

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

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Technorati Tags: Jesus Christ

I have forgotten the number of times I have been morally defeated through my own sinful flesh. Luckily, so has God. The difference is that Satan loves to remind my how many times I’ve gone to the throne of grace seeking forgiveness of my sins. Satan tries to convince me that I’m using up all my mercy, as though God has limited grace. The argument is that I may as well stay as I am instead of having to return to the mercy seat for my latest sin. And if all I had was Satan’s counsel and my guilt, I would be doomed. But glory to God I have the promise of His Word!

“For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear Him. For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.” (Psalm 103:11-14)

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Technorati Tags: sin

Early voting started this past Saturday in Florida. And yesterday we began being inundated with ads by a SuperPAC that supports Mitt Romney. To say these ads were full of half-truths would be generous.

That’s the one thing that bothers you the most about politics, isn’t it dear Christian? You cannot stand all the lies and mudslinging. As my sweet bride always says, “I want to hear what each candidate’s plan is to help turn our country around.”

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One year from today our nation will inaugurate either the 45th President of the United States or Barack Obama for a second term. As a nation we face the most important presidential election of my 55 years (when I vote) on earth. Some would say in history. I would say it is a close second to the election of 1860, because our nation’s survival hung in the balance then.

So what should we look for in our next president? Too many of us, me included for the longest time, looked for perfection whether we want to admit it or not. The truth of the matter is we all have fatal flaws and none of us are truly fit for office, for too many reasons to list right now. I know it gets very confusing in this time of year, and that is one of the reasons we began Aletheia Group L.L.C.; to help discover the truth no matter where it leads.

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Technorati Tags: integrity

This week is Sanctity of Life Week. In my newsletter The Truth, I write about what it will take to finally defeat the scourge of abortion. This morning I want to look at a much deeper-seated issue than abortion; one that is personal for each of us.

As you look across our country you can identify many a problem with our nation. Wise men have said that these are merely the symptoms of the real cause of our problems in America. Many rightly ask, “How can we expect God to bless America when we murder 3,000 babies a day.” They say this is the deep-seated issue of our nation.

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Technorati Tags: Sanctity of Life

If there were ever a subject taught more falsely by peddlers of Christ than the title of today’s devotional, then I’ve yet to see it. The “name it and claim it” prosperity preachers found on the Trinity Broadcasting Network and similar stations LUUVVV to preach on this subject.

Well the aletheia truth is that Jesus does want us to live an abundant life, but let’s be sure we understand the abundance. This abundance comes from the Good Shepherd Jesus Christ. Read His words carefully:

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Technorati Tags: abundant life, Bible

What causes stinking thinking, and just as important, how do we clear it up?

First, we use worldly principles to guide our thoughts and actions. Even as Christians we can get to the point that the world’s point of view governs our actions. One example is how Christians elected to office end up rolling over to a godless edict sent down from the courts. To bow at the steps of an unlawful judicial ruling not only is godless, it is also unconstitutional.

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Technorati Tags: stinking thinking

I’m not sure that saying is “hip” anymore. I know for a while that if someone was bragging hard on themselves, another person would eventually say, “You ain’t all that!”

I think many times the Holy Spirit would like to say that to us, albeit in a heavenly way. Whether it be our bragging of why we think we’re going to heaven or if we as Christians try to portray ourselves as something we really aren’t.

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Technorati Tags: humility, pharisees, Pride

Some Christians are saved and satisfied. They have eternity’s golden ticket, they are invited to the wedding feast, and yet its almost as though they do not plan to eat of it. Many Christians should be on the solid food of Scripture and yet they still require the milk of immaturity. Why is this? They have yet to be obedient to the call of their salvation:

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12-13)

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Technorati Tags: obedience

If America is to be restored it will come through revival. And if revival is to come, that will come through repentance. Therein lies our nation’s problem, in and out of the church. As our pastor preached this Sunday, we have become a nation of where shame is the greater offense than sin. Pulpits across America preach a grace without guilt when there can be no grace without first experiencing guilt. And finally, America wants restoration without repentance. Again, that is putting the cart before the horse.

Ah but Bro Dave, it’s not good to make people feel ashamed for their sin or walk around with guilt and sorrow. We want them to experience forgiveness and grace. I too want the latter but you must have the former. For I know of no Bible verse that teaches repentance without sorrow. Perhaps you can find it in the NTFV (New Touchy-Feely Version) Bible, but my Bible says:

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I once had someone tell me that he was not a sinner. I told him the Bible was very clear on that:

“…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:23)

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How bad is your sin? No, no, not to God! We already know how bad our sin is before God. How bad is your sin to YOU?! Do you have categories of sin? Do you rank your sin from bad to worse? Do you compare your sins to other, consciously or subconsciously? Have you come to some sort of settlement with your sin after “extensive negotiations” with your conscience?

Did you know that it is only natural and normal to do so? That’s what makes it so wicked.

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Could you imagine if your secret sin(s) were exposed to the public in the way Bill Clinton, Ted Haggard, or any other public figure? What would your reaction be if you knew that someone “had the goods on you” and was going “to expose you for the fraud you are”? Would you openly repent or deny the allegations?

I ask these questions to in no way justify these actions, but to get us to look at how hastily we judge others for their sins. And I say judge because we compare our sins to theirs and believe are to not be nearly as bad. No doubt God does the same thing, right? Whenever I do this, the Holy Spirit reminds me of a story Jesus once told:

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My sister Minji (given name Mary) wrote yesterday in response to our devotional on the last conceit to go and said she has been struggling to understand her “artist self”, lately realizing that we never really understand ourselves. As we said, only God understands us. Minji is realizing a great freedom in losing herself instead of the exhausting fool’s errand of trying to find oneself.

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Yesterday we talked about vanity and presuming upon tomorrow. I got a lot of responses testifying to how this has manifested itself in a number of lives. Last night I got a text from my best friend since the sixth grade and brother in Christ Don Roberts asking for prayer for one of his church brothers who had just been killed in a motorcycle accident. Please continue to be in prayer for the Pena Family as they deal with the loss of Juan.

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This morning I began reading the proverb of the day, Proverbs 27 and I couldn’t get past verse one:

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So how does one witness to an atheist? Do you engage in arguments about apologetics, intelligent design, or proving evolution? Or is there a simpler, more basic way to share your faith with an atheist? Dr. Rainer asked Mrs. J if she had a best argument for believing in God. Here’s her answer:

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So should we use apologetics, that is the defense of Christianity, with an atheist? Well let me ask you this question, similar to what our new friend Mrs. J asks in the book Unexpected Journey by Thom Rainer. Did you learn about apologetics before you acquired faith and was it apologetics that caused you to have faith?

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So how can we actually reach out to someone who is intent on destroying Christianity? Or how do we reach out to someone who is apathetic towards God? Like we do with any person we first meet, we build a relationship.

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I want you to design a picture in your mind of the typical atheist and compose a brief description to go under that picture as a caption. I’ll give you a few minutes to do so…go ahead and start and then come back.

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